Public Lecture - Biomedical MEMS

Abstract

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is a method of constructing integrated sensors and actuators using layer deposition, surface patterning and etching to form three dimensional structures in semiconductors, metals and plastics. Although the basic approach is derived from the older field of microelectronics, MEMS devices can operate by a wide variety of different physical principles, and often combine mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, ion optical, thermal, fluidic, chemical and biomedical features.
There are currently many applications for small diagnostic systems in chemistry, biochemistry and medicine. Work at Imperial College London on micro mass spectrometry, in-vitro control of biological cells, microcontact patterning for biochemical sensitisation of surfaces, in-vivo magnetic resonance imaging of cancerous human tissue and optical monitoring of reconstructive RF tissue fusion procedures will be described.

Speaker Biographical Sketch

Professor Richard Syms was born in Norfolk, VA, in 1958. He obtained a BA in Engineering Science in 1979 and a D.Phil. (on volume holographic optical elements) in 1982, both from Worcester College, Oxford. He has been Head of the Optical and Semiconductor Devices Group in the EEE Dept, Imperial College London, since 1992 and Professor of Microsystems Technology since 1996. He currently lectures on guided wave optics, electromagnetic theory and MEMS.
He has published over 140 journal papers, 90 conference papers and two books on holography, integrated optics, laser and amplifier devices and microengineering. Most recently he has been developing electrical MEMS such as micro-connectors, RF probes for magnetic resonance imaging, and miniature quadrupole mass spectrometers, optical MEMS devices such variable optical attenuators and tunable lasers, and three-dimensional self-assembling micro-structures.
He has consulted widely on guided wave optics and MEMS, and co-founded the MEMS spin-out Microsaic Systems in 2001. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Micro-electro-mechanical Systems and for Metamaterials. He has served on many MEMS review panels, including the EPSRC Microsystems Technology Integration Program and the German, Canadian, Singaporean and Swedish MEMS programs.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Electrical Engineers.